Horse-collar fastener



W. L. STEVENS. HORSE COLLAR FASTENER.

(No Model.)

No. 440,517. Patented Nov. 11, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM L. STEVENS, OF CLEARWVATER, NEBRASKA.

HORSE-COLLAR FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 440,517, dated November 11, 1890.

Application filed March 4, 1890.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. SrEvENs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clearwater, in the county of Antelope and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and useful Horse-Collar Fastener, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to horse-collars; and it consists in the improvements hereinafter described and set forth, whereby a simple and efficient fastening device is provided and auxiliary means secured for maintaining the fastening device engaged when necessary, and for conveniently spreading the collar'for its adjustment or removal when required.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a collar embodying my'improvements and showing the same fastened. Fig. 2 is a bottom view of said collar, and Fig. 3 a detail perspective view of the fastening device detached.

On the upper side of each of the end portions at b of the collar A are secured plates 0 cl, each consisting of an extended body 6, riveted to the collar and terminating adjacent to the open part of the collar in a rectangular loop f, located oblique with relation to the adjacent collar portion. To the loop of the plate 0 is hinge-connected one end of a link B, extending over the open part of the collar and having cut portions bent downward to present a series of hooks or ears g, adapted to engage the front bar of the loop of the plate d, in order to adj nstably secure the upper free portions of the collar.

Located externally at the center of the lower portion of the collar is a coiled spring 0, the ends h of which are extended and bent, as at 1', so that they will lie snugly in the depression in which the hames fit and in which they are Serial No. 842,671. (No model.)

secured by rivets j j, passing through and upset against the collar. The function of this spring 0 is to holdthe fastening devices firmly in engagement, and when they are disengaged to open and spread the collar to a degree sufficient to enable its convenient adjustment or removal.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that a collar embodying my improvements is not only simple and inexpensive, but that it can be readily and properly secured at all times, and is otherwise highly satisfactory.

By locating and securing thecurved spring and its extensions externally, as shown, the device can be applied to existing horse-collars without the necessity of altering or opening the same, and thus enabling the improvements to be readily and conveniently applied.

I claim-- 1. The combination, with ahorse-collar having a fastening device at its upper portion, as described, of a coiled spring externallylocated and secured at the lower part of said collar, and having extended ends externally located in the hame'recess and secured, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a horse-collar, of the plates 0 d, secured at the upper portion, as described, and each having an extended shank and enlarged loop, a link B, pivotally connected to one of said loops and having hooks g g to engage the loop of the other plate, and a coiled spring externally-located and secured to the lower part of the collar and having extended ends located in the hame-recess to spread the same, substantially as set forth.

W. L. STEVENS. Witnesses:

L. SHoErT, J. H. DELUNEY. 

